Messrs Boone and Crockett had it tough when they dragged their sorry asses across rugged terrain as they forged forth into the wild frontier.

Those savvy pioneers knew innovation was the key to surviving and prospering in the rugged hinterland. But they'd be in disbelief if they could foresee the high-tech donkeys of today.

It's good to know the pioneering spirit is still alive and kicking, with some smart innovation launched this week – the latest version of the humble mule, from the stable of Honda.

Old Daniel and Davey would have given their coonskin caps to rest their sorry asses on a seat in Honda's new mountain-taming beast – aptly named the Pioneer – and have a heapin' helpin' of the new side-by-side ATV which is set to transport NZ farmers and outdoor enthusiasts to a new level of capability, safety and efficiency.

The Pioneer from Honda was, appropriately, launched this month on the farm of a NZ pioneering family, in the stunning countryside of the Clevedon district.

Four generations of genuine Kiwi pioneers have farmed these hills and valleys and we were privileged to be able to enjoy them aboard the finest new four wheel drive vehicles on the market.

C&C ditched our coonskins for helmets and spent a day in the hills, sampling what the new ATV has to offer.

Honda's Damien Smyth and the lads from Blue Wing teamed up with specialist driver training gurus, AMS, for a demo day for a handful of NZ's leading rural journalists, to show exactly what the new Pioneer is capable of, and offer some expert tuition in ATV handing from the AMS team.

The Pioneer proved innovation is still alive and kicking like a stubborn mule, in the world of ATV design and development.

Things have come a long way since the early days of ATVs, and Honda have been at the head of the pack since the ubiquitous three wheelers burst onto the agricultural scene.

While the side-by-sides are no doubt safer, there's always potential for getting it wrong and some early, well-directed training can not only make the operation of these handy machines safer, but a lot more efficient and enjoyable.

After the all-important safety briefing and helmet fitting, we checked out the two seater with tipping tray; and four seater Pioneer features, then headed out for a farm drive over a well-planned course of terrain and obstacles.

Each Pioneer had an instructor in the passenger seat and the group was led by guides on Big Reds, plus a handy bloke on a two wheeler who was pretty useful for opening and closing gates.

First up was some open paddock running over some undulating pasture, which showed how smooth the ride can be on these four wheelers. Then down a couple of banks and through bog and swamp.

With the right encouragement from instructors, including some tips on control, such as left foot braking, we had the Hondas climbing near vertical banks and crossing bogs that seemed near impossible.

Out on the farm airstrip, the Pioneers were given a bit of jandal to blow off the cobwebs. The Pioneers can certainly belt along when conditions allow. Then it was time to check out the load carrying.

A trailer of meaty fence posts and a rear cargo deck with a load of heavy piles didn't faze the Pioneer.

The load handling was impressive and the tow hitch arrangements seemed well engineered to cope with the inevitable loads that farmers will inflict on these machines.

Next up was some terrain busting action, down river banks, across the stream, along the stream, through more swamp and across some seemingly impossible guts. A tilt test along the edge of a steep sidling reminded me of some of the hairy moments we've encountered crossing bars in boats – the machine handles the challenge better than many of the occupants!

With attentive AMS instructors every step of the way, the Pioneers were pushed to tipping point – and beyond in some cases – to give us a feel of exactly where that tipping point is.

The advice at this point from chief instructor Pete is firmly etched in my brain; as we felt the Pioneer in the balance between the forces of traction, gravity and the clenching effect of a certain part of the driver's anatomy. The control available to the driver, even in the stickiest of situations, is amazing.

As our confidence grew and we got a feel for the new machines, we headed into bush, over logs, a few more stream crossings for good measure and a couple of photo sessions – it was time to head back to the woolshed for a lovely lunch and debrief. The team swapped around drivers and passengers, so everyone had a turn enjoying the attributes of riding in the back of the four person Pioneer, which is a surprisingly good way to travel.

Built to work: The Pioneer has serious tow ability.

It was good to get a feel of driving this heavier machine, with a few more bods on board, to discover the effect of weight and centre of gravity.

The four-person Pioneer features fold-flat rear seats, providing a perfectly flat cargo area. The seats can be raised up or down without tools, and opened and closed in seconds. After lunch the group headed out again, this time to the top of the farm, the goal a trig station on the highest hill.

The farm had taken a pretty good hit from the rains of former Cyclone Lusi just a few days earlier, so there were some interesting conditions on the steeper sections and the clay pans.

However, it had dried remarkably well in just a day or so, and the terrain was no match for the competent Pioneers, even with some questionably experienced pilots.

Really getting into the groove of these mountain-taming machines, with carefully controlled delivery of power in just the right places, we traversed winding and sometimes narrow farm tracks to the top of the world – and the trig station hill overlooking Waiheke, Great Barrier and the gulf out to the Coromandel.

It was obligatory photo time, and then some sage advice from Pete about downhill control, before we ventured down via a different track. There was some scrub land negotiating and a seemingly impossible creek crossing that featured wheels in the air and a bit of belly sliding.

It was a great feeling arriving back at the woolshed, brimming with a feeling of expanded knowledge and skills, coupled with the thrill of opportunity to test drive these remarkable new vehicles.

A little bit of knowledge and training goes a long way and it's clear anyone, particularly those making their living off the land, is well advised to tap into the vast expertise on offer from both the suppliers of the machines, and training specialists such as AMS.

Our thanks to Damien and Blue Wing for an amazing opportunity; to Pete, Gene, Amy and the AMS team for their calm yet commanding delivery of so many vital skills and information; and to the farm owners for allowing us access to their stunning farmland and terrain.

The four seater making tracks.